id: 129854 accession number: 1952.280 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1952.280 updated: 2023-03-09 12:47:47.104000 Historiated Initial (E) Excised from a Gradual: Adoration of the Magi, c. 1200–1240. Italy, Siena, 13th century. Ink, tempera, and gold on parchment; sheet: 17 x 21 cm (6 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1952.280 title: Historiated Initial (E) Excised from a Gradual: Adoration of the Magi title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: c. 1200–1240 creation date earliest: 1200 creation date latest: 1240 current location: creditline: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund copyright: --- culture: Italy, Siena, 13th century technique: ink, tempera, and gold on parchment department: Medieval Art collection: MED - Manuscript Illuminations type: Manuscript find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: Sheet: 17 x 21 cm (6 11/16 x 8 1/4 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: The Decorated Letter and the Illuminator's Art opening date: 1993-09-25T04:00:00 The Decorated Letter and the Illuminator's Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 25-December 19, 1993). title: Prince Salim's Life of Christ (Manuscript Rotation) - Gallery 115 opening date: 2019-12-02T05:00:00 Prince Salim's Life of Christ (Manuscript Rotation) - Gallery 115. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (December 2, 2019-July 1, 2020). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS --- PROVENANCE --- fun fact: X-ray fluorescence analysis is a nondestructive technique used to determine the elemental composition of materials. On this leaf it revealed that the dark blue pigment contains azurite. digital description: wall description: All the essential narrative elements—Mary, the infant Jesus, and the three Magi—are tucked into the lower body of the initial E. Although the initial is now separated from its original context in a gradual, or choir book, it would have marked the beginning of a new chant. In this case it is for the feast of Epiphany (January 6), which celebrates the arrival of the Magi in Bethlehem to see the newborn Christ. The Introit for that Mass begins: Ecce advenit dominator Dominus. . . . (Behold the lord the ruler is come. . . .). --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1952.280/1952.280_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1952.280/1952.280_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1952.280/1952.280_full.tif